The National Park Service is always doing maintenance around the Smoky Mountain National Park to keep the area safe for visitors. It is for this reason that the Laurel Falls Trail will be closed for a while in 2025. While the work is being done, use the time to enjoy the park's other great waterfall hikes. Read on to learn about some of them in preparation for your future visits. Here is a list of 3 alternative Smoky Mountain waterfall hikes to visit when Laurel Falls is closed:
1. Abrams Falls
The Abrams Falls Trail has a roundtrip distance of 5.2 miles and is considered moderate when it comes to difficulty. Hikers will walk through a forest to get to the trail's namesake. If you hike in the spring, stop to admire all the colorful wildflowers. The waterfall will be reached at around 2.6 miles from the trailhead. While it stands at only 20 feet high, the waterfall is very voluminous. You will be amazed at the large amount of water that rushes over the sandstone cliff and into the deep pool. As for animals, you may see salamanders along the rocks and in the water. One of the more rare creatures that live here is the river otter. Their population was reintroduced here in the 1990s.
2. Rainbow Falls
The Rainbow Falls Trail is another one of the great Smoky Mountain waterfall hikes. It is slightly longer than Abrams Falls at 5.4 miles roundtrip and is considered moderate in difficulty. The terrain is rugged, but the trail received major improvements between 2017 and 2019. It included the installation of 400 drainage elements and 350 steps. Hikers will cross two footbridges to get to the waterfall which is located about 2.7 miles from the trailhead. Rainbow Falls is the tallest single-drop waterfall in the Smoky Mountains at 80 feet tall. The waterfall gets its name from the rainbow that appears around it on sunny days thanks to the light and the mist. If you hike in the winter, admire the ice formation that forms when the water freezes.
3. Grotto Falls
Grotto Falls is another waterfall hike in the Smokies that is shorter than Rainbow Falls and Abrams Falls at 2.6 miles. Because of this, it is considered easy in difficulty which means it is great for beginners. As for the terrain, it is a flat, well-worn path. Before you get to Grotto Falls, you will use footbridges to cross over some streams. Hikers will get a first glimpse at Grotto Falls 1.2 miles from the trailhead. While Grotto Falls is only 25 feet high, it has unique features. That is, it is the only waterfall in the Smokies that hikers can walk behind. Use caution on any slippery rocks. Additionally, Grotto Falls is also known for its abundant population of salamanders. You may see them in the water or hiding under rocks.
We hope you explore these stunning Smoky Mountain waterfall hikes! Want to know more about what’s in store for Laurel Falls when it reopens? Explore our other list of what to know about the Laurel Falls improvements!
